Vitamin D shown to reduce the risk of cancer

Total Health | February 24th, 2011

Having a greater intake of Vitamin D can prevent or reduce the chance of breast cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. and other major diseases according to researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha.

The study reports on volunteers who were taking Vitamin D supplements in the dosage range from 1000 to 10,000 International Units (IU) per day. Blood tests were conducted to ensure the level of 25-Vitamin D was maintained, this is the form in which most vitaminEssential substances that cannot be produced by the body and so must be acquired from the diet. D circulates in the body. To fully understand the size of the supplement taken in the study, the recommended minimum intake of Vitamin D is 600 IU/day, with 400 IU/day required to prevent ricketsA disease caused by nutritional deficiency that causes bone deformities in childhood. The most common cause is vitamin D deficiency.. 

Research into larger doses of Vitamin D became of interest in December 2010 when the National Academy of Sciences Institute identified that 4000 IU/day of Vitamin D was safe for adults and children of nine years or older.

An alternative to oral supplementation is sensible sun exposure while taking care not to burn and this is all that is required to maintain adequate bloodA fluid that transports oxygen and other substances through the body, made up of blood cells suspended in a liquid. levels and avoid the winter drop in Vitamin D.

For more information on Vitamin D please see the article by Mr John Christofides, Principal Clinical Scientist: 

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Expert articles

Health implications for moving North… do you need more sunshine?

By Mr John Christofides, Principal Clinical ScientistContact
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Vitamin D status in Europe shows surprisingly wide variation; for example the 1997 SUVIMAX study in French adult men and women aged 35-65 years showed an average of 43nmol/L in the North, which is classified as insufficient by modern standards, and 94 nmol/L in the South West of France, (classified optimal by modern standards as it was >80nmol/L). This is as might be expected with the known variation of vitaminEssential substances that cannot be produced by the body and so must be acquired from the diet. D status against latitude. In contrast the 1995 Euronaut-Seneca study on independent elderly people showed a greater vitamin D level in the North of Europe compared to southern Europe, however, both latitudes were classified sub optimal by modern standards and may have simply reflected the generally poor Vitamin D status of elderly house-bound people irrespective of latitude. 

Vitamin D promotes good health and it’s free

By Mr John Christofides, Principal Clinical ScientistContact
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

This article reviews the prevalence of chronicA disease of long duration generally involving slow changes. vitaminEssential substances that cannot be produced by the body and so must be acquired from the diet. D deficiency in the UK population and the growing interest in its protective effects against various diseases. The UK government policy of sun avoidance claims to have slowed down the increase in melanomaA malignant tumour arising from pigmented cells or melanocytes, most often in the skin but has had a deleterious effect on the simple and natural means of skin production of vitamin D. The review shows that an alternative to oral supplementation is sensible sun exposure, taking care not to burn, is all that is required to maintain adequate bloodA fluid that transports oxygen and other substances through the body, made up of blood cells suspended in a liquid. levels and avoid the winter drop in vitamin D. The elderly and immobile in particular should be targeted for vitamin D blood screeningA way to identify people who may have a certain condition, among a group of people who may or may not seem to and appropriate oral supplementation.

If you are worried about your vitamin status order a lab request.

Vitamin D: Essential Intake

By Dr Nigel Plummer, Microbiologist

A surge of new scientific studies have provided unchallenged evidence of the profound effects that vitaminEssential substances that cannot be produced by the body and so must be acquired from the diet. D has on a whole range of chronicA disease of long duration generally involving slow changes. diseases. Moreover, this research also indicates that the general population is chronically deficient in Vitamin D and that recommended intakes have been woefully inadequate to provide optimum status.

Evaluation of all types of epidemiological and intervention-based studies now provides unequivocal evidence for the role of vitamin D in helping to lower the risk of developing virtually all types of chronic disease. 

Recent news

Rates of vitamin D deficiency on the rise

Total Health | January 25th, 2012

Thanks to the Clean Air Act of 1956 and the availability of supplements such as cod liverA large abdominal organ that has many important roles including the production of bile and clotting factors, detoxification, and the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. oil, rates of ricketsA disease caused by nutritional deficiency that causes bone deformities in childhood. The most common cause is vitamin D deficiency. began to decline in the UK from the 1950s but doctors are now finding that this trend has stopped. Dr Benjamin Jacobs, a Consultant at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, has informed the BBC that severe cases of rickets are treated at the hospital approximately once a month.

Good diet protects brain and promotes mental performance

Total Health | January 3rd, 2012

According to research conducted by neurologists we should all avoid junk and eat food that is rich in vitamins, such as fish, in order to protect the brain. The research shows that elderly people with high bloodA fluid that transports oxygen and other substances through the body, made up of blood cells suspended in a liquid. levels of vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids (commonly found in fish) had less brain shrinkage and better mental performance.

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